>The problem with being 25 is that you have about 8 years ahead of you before you figure out how full of shit everyone is in their twenties, and maybe another 8 before you figure out that everyone is full of shit and stop worrying quite so much about it.
Boy there is some truth right here. It wasn't until long after I graduated undergrad that I realized just how much bullshit is out there. Even in the science world! When I started actually reading the methodology of studies with impressive sounding conclusions, I realized that easily 30-60% were just garbage. The specific journal really, really matters. I'd say 90% of science journalism targeting laymen is just absolute bullshit.
I started actually chasing down wikipedia citations and OMG they are bad!! Half are broken links, a large fraction don't support the conclusions they're being used for, and a massive fraction are really dubious sources.
I realized that so many people I respected are so full of shit.
I realized that so many of MY OWN OPINIONS were bullshit. And they STILL are. I hold so few opinions that are genuinely well-reasoned and substantiated. They are so shallow.
Yet, this is just how the world works. Human intuition is a hell of a drug. A lot of the people I respect tend to be right, but for all the wrong reasons. It's SOOOO rare to find people that can REALLY back up their thinking on something.